Traffic-line-laying apparatus



Dec- 14 ,1926. 1,610,773

F. L. HANSEN TRAFFIC LINE LAYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Elf/0116a.

BY r I ATTO'RNEY Dec. 14 {1926.

F; L. HANSEN TRAFFIC LINE LAYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.15, 1924 INVENTOR Fl. ffansefl.

ATTORNEY TRAFFIC LINE LAYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1924 :5Sheets-Sheet 5 h I M M INVENTOR fihrrsen.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

PATENT orrica- FRED L. HANSEN, .OF PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS.

TRAFFIC-LINE-LAYFNG APPARATUS.

Applica'tlqn filed January 15, 1924. Serial No. 686,853.

The invention relates to apparatus for laying a trafiic line uponstreets or roadways such as are usually utilized for marking suchstreets or roadways to guide traflic thereover.

Due to the greatly increasing vehicle traffic over modern roadways andstreets it is a common practice to mark the said highways with guidelines such for example as those drawn down the center of a highway t od1- vide the same for the (purpose of guiding trafiic going in oppositeirections, especially at curves. These traflic lines are often made byhand by the use of an applying brush and a suitable coating of paint orsimilar substance, and attempts have been madeto devise machines forlayin the line, but in all such attempts the mac ines produced areimpractical because of the expense to manufacture the same, the lack ofcoordination of the necessary elements thereof, and the diflicul'ty inhandling the machine, all of which tend to make the laying of a trafficline such as will meet the requirements 5 either impossible orimpractical.

Therefore it is the object of my presen invention to provide a machinewhich will lay a perfect traflic line, of sanded asphalt or otherdesired material, such as will meet all ofthe requirements of apractical traffic line, which machine is of a ver sim le construction,eas to operate, and 1n which provision is ma e for adjusting thethickness of the material laid, and of the devices for guiding thelaying of such material so beds of various widths. A

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for supportingthe operator of the machine in a position where he can most eifectivelyobserve the guiding devices for governing the laying of the trafiic lineand for steering the machine, the said supporting means being alsoadjustable to adapt the. machine to use upon road-beds of variouswidths.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appearthe invention further resides in those novel details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fullydescribed, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims,reference bein had to the accompanying drawings in whic as to adapt themachine to use upon road- Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan viewof the invention, parts being roken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic side 4 elevation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken line 3-3 on Figure 1. I

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation illustrating the manner ofarrangement of the asphalt discharge nozale and theroadway cleaningbrush.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross section taken on the line 5-5 onFigure 6.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section through the as haltdischar ing n'oz'zle as indicated by the line 6-6 on igure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail crossection taken on the line 77 on Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a somewhatdi rammatic rear elevation of the asphalt kett e.'

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all of the figures, 1 indicates the chassis or framin of the machinewhich may be of any desired construction, as for'example the chassis ofany acceptable type of automobile, such as will include the rearsupportingwhcels 2 and the front supporting and steering wheels 3provided. with the usual steering connections 4 adapted to be operatedby the operatorof the machine through the medium of the Steering wheeland steering devices indicated at 5, and which are mounted upon the sideframe 6 supported by the frame 1 to project laterally thereof as isindicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the connecting ro 7 forming theconnection between said steering connections 4 and steering devices 5.It W1ll be observed from Figure 1 of the drawings that the frame 6 ispivotally connected to the frame 1, as at 8, and is laterallyadjustable, to make extension or contraction thereof possible, as at 9,and to-inelude cross braces 10 for supporting the bracket bearings 11,which in turn sup ort the shaft 12 upon which the suppor in wheel 13 ismounted, and that a drivers sea 14 is carried by the frame 6 in properposition for being in cooperative relation with the steering devices 5.It will also be observed from that figure that the connecting rod 7 ismade in two parts, one adjustably connected to the other, so that thesaid rod on i the may; be extended or contracted to correspond wit thecondition of the frame 6.

A towingl connection 15 may be provided and ivota connected to the frontend of the c assis ame so as to ermit a means of connection for anydesired towing agency, such as a tractor or truck, whereby the machinemay be drawn along the roadway. I do not desire, however, to be limitedto the trailer structure hereinbefore disclosed in detail, it beingreadily apparent that the chassis frame 1 may be rovided with a suitablepower plant where y to derive its own propelling power withouttranscending the scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

The invention as herein disclosed is adapted to be drawn along the roadb a towing agency and in order to provide or guiding the laying of theline in the manner later to be described so that the same will be laidat the desired point on the road-bed I provide a. guiding rod 16 whichis vertically suspended in an adjustable manner, as at 17, in anextensible carryin rod 18 which is itself adjustably mounted, as at 19,in the supportin sleeve 20 extending forwardly laterally rom themachine, by the supporting arms 22 secured to the asphalt kettle 23supported upon the front end .of the chassis 1 and the chassis itself.

It will be observed from Figure 1 of the drawings that the drivers seatis in a position in alignment with the guide rod 16 and the edge of theroadway, it being understood that when the machine is in operation theguide rod 16 is adjusted to be suspended vertically above the edge ofthe roadway farthest to the right of the machine, and by reason of theosition of the operators seat 14 upon the rame 6 he can very readilyobserve the relation of the said guide rod and the roadway ed e tothereby effectively guide the laying of t e trafiic line in an evenmanner and at the desired point along the road-bed.

The asphalt discharge nozzle is generall designated 24 and is incommunication wit the asphalt kettle 23 through the piping line 25 andthe adjustable goose neck connection 26, a valve 27 being spliced intothe pi ing 25 at a point adjacent the said kettle or a pur ose later tobe described.

ore specifically, the discharge nozzle 24 is constructed to comprise abottom member 28 in the nature of a U-shaped trough, tapered from therear end to the discharge end and which has connected therewith acontinuation in the nature of a neck 29 which is adapted to be securedto, to cooperate with, the goose neck connection 26. A lever 30 of strapiron or other suitable material is secured to the neck 29, projectsvertically laterally therefrom and is slot and adjustable bolt connectedas at 31 to the supporting arm 32 secured to the pi ing 25, the saidlever serving to efiect justment of the nozzle with relation to theroad-bed over which it is traveling.

The nozzle 24 also includes an adjustable top portion 33 in the natureof a plate adapted to closely engage the flanges of the bottom member 28to cooperate therewith in forming the nozzle 24, and the rear end ofthis member 33 is hingedly connected, as at 34, to the rear end of thebottom member 28 and is provided with a swivel screw member 35 connectedto the front end thereof and adapted to cooperate with the inverted Ubracket 36 secured to the lower member 28 in effecting a raising andlowering of the front end of the upper member 33 to adjust the thicknessof the discharge opening of the nozzle 24 and thereby regulate theamount of flow of asphalt therefrom.

The bottom member 28 of the nozzle may be provided, at its frontcorners, with suitable supporting rollers 37 which will en age theroad-bed as the machine is drawn a ong and prevent wear of the nozzle 24such as would effect the perfect discharging action thereof.

A steel brush 38 is link connected, as at 39, to the side of the asphaltkettle 23 so as to engage the ground in advance of the position of thenozzle 24 to eflfect a loosening-of any particles which may be adheringto the ground so that the road-bed may be effectively cleaned by theblast of air which is ejected by the air nozzle 40 secured to theconnection 26 in cooperative relation with the said brush 38. While thesteel brush may be secured in any manner in cooperative relation withthe machine, the link connection is illustrated because it effects ameans of connection such as will permit the brush to be readily elevatedout of coo erative relation with the road surface, an the said brush maybe heavily weighted, if itbe so desired, so as to provide a greaterfrictional contact thereof with the ground.

Air may be sup lied to the nozzle 40 through a suitable exible hose line41 connected therewith and to a suitable compressed air supply which maybe carried either by the machine itself or by the towing agency, an airvalve 42 being spliced into the line 41 that the flow of air to thenozzle 40 may be regulated.

As the line is being formed by the heated asphalt being discharged fromthe nozzle 24 I desire to cover the line with sand while the asphalt isstill in its heated and sticky condition so that the sand will be causedto adhere thereto and thereby provide a trailic line of neat andpleasing appearance and one which will not readily wear and be eifacedfrom the road-bed.

For thus distributing the sand I provide a delivery chute 43 which issupported in such position that its delivery end will be directl overand closely adjacent to the line of asp alt being laid, the said chutebeing provided with a plurality of distributing pins 44 which interruptthe-passage of sand down the said chute in a manner for effecting aneven distribution thereof over the said line being laid.

The delivery chute 43 is supported by and directly beneath and incommunication with the discharge throatway 45 of the main sand chute 46,which itself projects laterally from and forms an integral part of thesand bin or reservoir 47 supported upon the frarne 1. The bin 47 servesto provide means for carrying a large supply of sand to be distributedover the asphalt line and the said bin may be constructed of wood andlined with tin, or in any other manner found desirable.

The flow of sand through the discharge throatway 45 of the main sandchute 46 is controlled by the slide 48 which may be operated by reasonof the connection therewith of the control lever 49 through whichadjustment of the slide may be made to in crease or diminish the amountof sand flowing through the said discharge throatway.

In order to insure the desired free flow of sand through the dischargethroatway 45 under all conditions, I provide an agitator 50 in thenature of a cross shaft with agitating fingers projecting therefrom, andthe said agitating member is adapted to be rotated by sprocket and chaintransmission 51 from the drive shaft- 52. and 7 of the drawings.

In orderto provide for the proper heating of the asphalt to renderthesame and to keep the same in condition for readily flowing through thenozzle 24, the kettle 23 may be provided with a fire door 53 and asuitable grate 54 upon which a coal or wood fire may be readily built, aflue 55 being also provided to carry off the products of combustion.

In operation, when the invention is constructed in the nature. of atrailer as disclosed in the drawings, the same is adapted to be drawnalong the roadway by a suitable hauling agency such as a truck ortractor and it is obvious that the said hauling agency may be utilizedto carry a suitable supply of asphalt or sand with which to replenishthe supply carried by the machine itself as well as a suitable aircompressing tank or reservoir, all of which are not shown. in thedrawings since detailed illustrations thereof are deemed unnecessary toa proper understanding of the invention.

\Vhen it is desired to start laying the traffie line the operator, afterconsidering the width of the road-bed upon which the line is to be laid,will adjust the guide rod 16 so that it will project vertically abovethe right hand edge of the road-bed, or any other con- See Figures 1, 3

tinuous line by which the laying of the traffic line may be effectivelyguided then, after adjusting the valve 27 to ermit the 'flow'of theheated asphalt throug the piping25 to the nozzle 24,.an adjustment ofthe nozzle parts 28 and 33, to vary the thickness of the discharge endthereof in consideration of the serve the relation of that line and theguiding rod 16 so as to perfectly guide the la ing of the asphalt lineby the nozzle 24. XS the machine is drawn along the brush 38, being inengagement with the road bed, will serve to loosen all particles whichmay tend to adhere to the road bed, thus making it possible for the airdischarged through the nozzle 40 to very effectively clean the road wayin advance of the nozzle 24 so that the laying of the asphalt line willbe clean and even.

As the line is laid and while the asphalt is in its semi-l quid heatedstate, the sand is evenly distributed thereover by reason of thedelivery chute 43 and the other elementswhich permit and effect thedischarging of the sand thereinto.

By reason of pivotally connecting the frame 6 to the side. of themachine frame 1 it is possible for the frame to move vertically upon thepivots so as to compensate for uneven conditions of the road, andthereby prevent stress and strain upon the machine which would otherwisebe present, and by reason of adjustably mounting the guiding rod 16, theconnecting rod 7 and the side beams of the frame 6 laterally of the mainframe 1, it is possible to adjust the machine to use on road-beds ofvarying widths.

By reason of providing the valve 27 in the piping 25 at a point adjacentthe kettle it is possible to cut off the supply of asphalt from the saidkettle to the nozzle, thereby permitting the asphalt in the piping 25beyond the valve to drain off so that the same will not remain in thepipe to cool and congeal. This valve will also serve to determine theamount of or pressure of the asphalt flowing to the nozzle.

When the invention is constructed as a trailer as illustrated in thedrawings the drive shaft 52 may be caused to rotate by reason of thebevelled gear connection 56 with the cross shaft 57 upon which the rearwheels 2 are mounted, the power being applied by reason of the tractionof the said rear wheels upon the roadway. It should be understood thatwhen a power plant is supplied that the invention may erate un- (let itsown power and that the agitator may then be connected up directly withthe power shaft of the engine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it is thought the novel details of construction, the advantages and themanner of operation of my invention will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art to which it relates.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting frame, akettle carried by the frame for containing the substance of which theline is to be laid, a nozzle for layin the line, a pipe line throughwhich the su stance is supplied from the kettle to the nozzle, roadcleaning devices carried in advance of the nozzle, a bin carried by theframe and adapted to carry a supply of sand and having a dischargethroatway, a distributor chute in communication with the dischargethroatway and having its distributing end adjacent the roadway inalignment with the nozzle, and distributing pins in said chute fordistributing the sand over the line being laid.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting frame, akettle carried by the frame for containing the substance of which theline is to be laid. a nozzle for laying the line, a pipe line throughwhich the substance is supp ied from the kettle to the nozzle, roadcleaning devices carried in advance of the nozzle, a bin carried by theframe and adapted to carry a supply of sand and having a dischargethroatway, a distributor chute in communication with the dischargethroatway and having its distributing end adjacent the roadway inalignment with the nozzle, distributing pins in said chute fordistributing the sand over the line being laid, an agitator devicecooperative with the discharge throatway to cause the sand to flowfreely therethrough, and means to drive said agitator.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting frame, akettle carried by the frame for containing the substance of which theline is to be laid, a nozzle for layin the line, a pipe line throughwhich the su stance is supplied from the kettle to the nozzle, roadcleaning devices carried in advance of the nozzle, means for adjustingthe relation of the nozzle with the roadway, and means for adjusting thedischarge opening of said nozzle.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting frame, akettle carried by the frame for containing the substance of which theline is to be laid, a nozzle for la ying the line, a pipe line throughwhich the substance is supplied from the kettle to the nozzle, roadcleaning devices carried in advance of the nozzle, means for adjustingthe relation of the 'nozzle with the roadway, means for adjusting thedischarge opening of said nozzle, a valve in the pipe line adjacent thekettle, a bin carried by the frame and adapted to carry a supply of sandand having a discharge throatway, a distributor chute in communicationwith the discharge throatway and havin its distributing end adjacent theroadway in alignment with the nozzle, distributing ins in said chute fordistributin the san laid an agitator device cooperative with thedischarge throatway to cause the sand to flow freely therethrough, andmeans to drive said agitator.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting frame, meanswhereby the frame may be drawn along a roadway, means for steering themovement of the frame, means for guiding the steering action, a kettlecarried by the frame for containing the substance of which the line isto be laid, a nozzle for laying the line, a pipe line through which thesubstance is supplied from the kettle'to the nozzle, road cleaningdevices carried in advance of the nozzle, and an auxiliary frameconnected pivotally to the frame that it may adapt itself to unevennessof the roadway and for providing a station for the operator at a pointdirectly above the roadway edge and in alignment with said guidingmeans.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supportin frame, meanswhereby the frame may be drawn along a roadway, means for steering themovement of the frame, means for guidin the steering action, a kettlecarried by the f i'ame for containing the substance of which the line isto be laid, a nozzle for laying the line, a pipe line through which thesubstance is supplied from the kettle to the nozzle, road cleaningdevices carried in advance of the nozzle, means for adjusting therelation of the nozzle with the roadway, means for adjusting thedischarge opening of said nozzle, an auxiliary frame, connectedpivotally to the frame that it may adapt itself to unevenness of theroadway and for providing a station for the operator at a point directlyabove the roadway edge and in alignment with said guiding means, thesaid auxiliary frame and the guidin means being laterally adjustable toadapt t e a paratus to use on roadways of various wi ths.

7. The combination with traffic line laying apparatus adapted to bemoved over the roadway and including a supporting frame and means to laythe line, of an-auxiliary frame projected laterally from and pivotallyconnected to the supporting frame, means for supporting theauxiliary-frame, an operators seat supported by the auxiliary frame,guide devices adjustably supported by the. supporting frame andprojected laterover the line being.

ally therefrom, the said auxiliary frame and guide devices beinglaterally adjustable with relation to the carrying frame to associatethe positions of the operators seat and said guide devices with aguiding medium upon the roadway.

8. The combination with traflic line laying apparatus including a frame,supporting wheels for said frame, steering devices for said wheels andmeans for laying a traflic line, of an auxiliary frame projectedlaterally from the supporting frame, a wheel for supporting theauxiliary frame above the roadway, pivotal connections between saidsupporting frame and said auxiliary frame, an operators seat supportedby the auxiliary frame, steering devices convenient to the op eratorsseat, steering connections between the steering devices and wheelssupporting the supporting frame that steering of the apparatus can beeffected from the operators seat, and guide devices supported by thesupporting frame to project laterally therefrom, the said supportinframe, the steering connections, and the guide devices being laterallyadjustable that the operators seatand the guide devices may beassociated with a guiding medium upon roadways of various widths forguiding the laying of the traflic line thereupon.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting frame, akettle carried by the frame for containing the substance of which theline is to be laid, a nozzle for laying the line, a pipe line throughwhich the substance is supplied from the kettle to th\ nozzle, roadcleaning devices carried in ad Vance of the nozzle, the said nozzleincluding opposing members, one of which includes a neck incommunication with the pipe line, a hinge connection between themembers, swivel and bracket devices for causing the. opposing members tomove toward or from each other to increase or diminish the dischargeopening therebetween, and lever devices connected with the nozzlewhereby the position of the same with relation to the roadbed may bevaried.

10. In a traiiic line marker, a traveling vehirrle, means for carryingmarking material on said vehicle, means to lead the material to thedesired location adjacent to the road surface and deposit the same inthe form of a line or strip to one side of the vehicle and parallel tothe direction of travel of the vehicle, said vehicle including operatorcontrolled steering mechanism, and means on the vehicle cooperating witha portion of the road-bed for guiding the operator in steering.

11. In a traflic line marker, a traveling vehicle comprising a chassisincluding steering gear, an out-rigger seat for the driver of saidvehicle, said seat being located to one side of the chassis, a road edgeindicator on the vehicle in front of the seat, said steering gearincluding provisions adjacent to the seat for its operation, means forcarrying road marking material on the chassis, means to lead thematerial to the desired location adjacent to the road-bed and depositthe same thereon in a line or strip as the vehicle travels, for thepurposes specified.

L. HANSEN.

